[Greenkirby21]

Well, it seems like the 8 speed sport plus auto transmission has been getting great reviews.

Launch control, better gas mileage, and quicker as well.

However, I am going to order my 2er in manual transmission because it will be my first manual car, and I want to experience owning one before they all go away forever. Even now on my 128i everyday I drive it in manual mode and pretend like I am shifting

[rca06Mcoupe]

automatic. just can't do 100% of driving myself anymore. been a great 12 years of 6 speed though with the e46m3 followed by the m-coupe. bob

[eezzee]

I have the 8speed auto on the f20 and planning to change to the f22 when out. Have a similar quandary re manual or auto this time. Suspect will go for auto for the reasons you mention, but perhaps will test drive the manual too before making a decision.

[bimmerjph]

I have not decided if I am going to buy this or a Z4 3.0si coupe (possibly roadster if there are no coupes on the market). Either way it will be a six speed.

[amdmaxx]

Manual or dct

[Uptempo80]

I'm hoping to get a 235i convertible... Have to wait it out
I don't care which transmission I get because I'm sure the car will be fantastic.

I was going to get a 2013 Z4 sdrive 35i next month but the wife won't approve because of the fact that there is no back seat.
-My thinking: I'm still young (32) and we have no kids yet..so: "why not" lol

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by amdmaxx

Manual or dct

I don't think the DCT will be offered, will it?
From the info going around seems the ZF 8spd with be the AT.
If they offer the DCT as well, then that will be 3 choices.

My current 335i Msport has the ZF sport AT and it's a fantastic automatic.
I actually like it more than DCT and DSG in terms of smoothness, and the shifts are ultra fast as fast as the S4 with 7spd DSG.

My 135i was MT.
I'm really looking forward to the 2 series, especially if BMW makes a small sedan as well.
After driving my 335i AT for about 10 months, I think I'm going back to MT.
The sport AT is amazing, but it's not at all a replacement for the MT experience, even in manual mode.
It's a great alternative compared to dual clutch trans though.
Smoother due to the torque converter, and shifting is just as fast due to ZF's technology in this trans.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I don't think the DCT will be offered, will it?
From the info going around seems the ZF 8spd with be the AT.
If they offer the DCT as well, then that will be 3 choices.

My current 335i Msport has the ZF sport AT and it's a fantastic automatic.
I actually like it more than DCT and DSG in terms of smoothness, and the shifts are ultra fast as fast as the S4 with 7spd DSG.

My 135i was MT.
I'm really looking forward to the 2 series, especially if BMW makes a small sedan as well.
After driving my 335i AT for about 10 months, I think I'm going back to MT.
The sport AT is amazing, but it's not at all a replacement for the MT experience, even in manual mode.
It's a great alternative compared to dual clutch trans though.
Smoother due to the torque converter, and shifting is just as fast due to ZF's technology in this trans.

Yeah, I doubt there will be a DCT for the F22. The ZFHP8 shifts nearly as fast, is lighter, and easier to use around town.

[utenigma]

Originally Posted by RPM90

...
My current 335i Msport has the ZF sport AT and it's a fantastic automatic.
I actually like it more than DCT and DSG in terms of smoothness, and the shifts are ultra fast as fast as the S4 with 7spd DSG.
...After driving my 335i AT for about 10 months, I think I'm going back to MT.
The sport AT is amazing, but it's not at all a replacement for the MT experience, even in manual mode.
It's a great alternative compared to dual clutch trans though.
Smoother due to the torque converter, and shifting is just as fast due to ZF's technology in this trans.

This - the Sport auto is awesome and undoubtedly faster and better than I could ever be with the manual, but I miss the involvement

[BimmerMat135]

The 228i and the M235i should get the ZF8 i think that the M2 will probably have the dct.

[BimmaDrew]

MT for me!

[Bama335]

If we replace the 135 E88 dct with an M235 vert, it'll be the automatic. Given the choice, I'd prefer the dct over the ZF-8A, but I doubt the dct will be offered.

For the M235 coupe or hopefully the M2 GC, that'd be the MT6. My fear is that even the M2 will have the EPS, which hasn't thrilled me on either the F30 or the E89 I have driven.

By 2015 there may be nothing but EPS available. I'll get over it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[bradleyland]

I'm optimistic about the future of EPS. Chris Harris really liked it in the latest GT3 preview.

Quoted from another thread:

Originally Posted by bradleyland

EPS has the potential to be far better than hydraulically boosted steering assist.

Hydraulic systems use a pressure differential valve and a hydraulic ram to assist in steering. The pressure differential valve is calibrated to match input torque (how hard you twist the steering wheel) with assist, courtesy of pressurized hydraulic fluid fed to a ram. You can vary the assist by varying the pressure in the system, but the whole thing is more or less locked in to a set of parameters established by the mechanical design of the system.

Not to mention, all hydraulic systems have a large amount of parasitic drag. Moving the hydraulic ram requires additional effort above and beyond the effort required to turn the wheels.

An electronic system drives the steering components directly, and has far less parasitic drag when it's not offering assistance. In theory, you could turn off EPS through software, and you'd have manual steering with less additional effort than what would be required by disabling a hydraulic system. This means that EPS offers a much greater range of assist, and should (in theory) result in better overall steering feel.

The problem with current EPS systems is in the software. The upside is that software can be changed. I'm kind of surprised we haven't seen more software tuning for EPS "tuning", much like we do ECU tuning. The system has the potential to far exceed hydraulic systems, but we're stuck waiting on the software engineers to figure it out, and the execs to approve more aggressive tuning.